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Royal Opera House Live: Manon (15)

,Barbican Cinema 2
An image from Royal Opera House Live Manon

Kenneth Macmillian's powerful telling of Manon, set to music by Massenet from The Royal Opera House. 

Manon’s brother Lescaut is offering her to the highest bidder when she meets Des Grieux and falls in love. They elope to Paris, but when Monsieur GM offers Manon a life of luxury as his mistress she can’t resist. With the Lescauts’ encouragement Des Grieux cheats at cards in an attempt to win Monsieur G.M.’s fortune. They are caught. Manon is arrested as a prostitute and deported to New Orleans, followed by Des Grieux...

Kenneth MacMillan’s source for Manon was the 18th-century French novel already adapted for opera by Massenet and Puccini. The premiere was given on 7 March 1974 and quickly became a staple of The Royal Ballet’s repertory, and a touchstone of adult, dramatic dance. 

Designs by his regular collaborator Nicholas Georgiadis reflect this, depicting a world of lavish splendour polluted by miserable destitution. MacMillan’s spectacular ensemble scenes for the whole company create vivid, complex portraits of the distinct societies of Paris and New Orleans. 
 

Tagged with: Cinema Royal Opera House Live

Running time 2 hours 35 minutes, including two intervals
 

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Barbican Cinema 2

Location
Barbican Cinema 2 & 3 are located on Beech Street, a short walk from the Barbican’s Silk Street entrance. From Silk Street, you’ll see a zebra crossing that will take you across the road to the venue. 

Address
Beech Street
London
EC2Y 8DS

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